Congress, TMC leaders meet to discuss W. Bengal seat sharing pact
March 21st, 2011 - 12:31 pm ICT by ANI
New Delhi, Mar 21 (ANI): Key leaders of the Congress party and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have begun a meeting at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters here this morning to decide on the seat-sharing arrangement for six-phased assembly elections in West Bengal.
The first phase of voting in the state will take place on April 18, second phase on April 23, third phase on April 27, fourth phase on May 3, fifth phase on May 7 and sixth phase on May 10.
Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee has set the Congress a Monday deadline to come to an understanding on the seat-sharing issue.
Banerjee has said that if no agreement is reached, the TMC is ready to field candidates in all 292 seats, as opposed to the 228 earlier.
According to sources, the Congress Central Election Committee is expected to meet at 5 p.m. at party President Sonia Gandhi’s 10 Janpath residence here.
Congress general secretary Shakeel Ahmed has hinted that the party could consider tie-ups with smaller regional parties if talks with the TMC fail.
He told media persons here that the TMC was the Congress party’s ‘first choice’.
“If no consensus is reached on seat sharing arrangements with Trinamool Congress, the Congress party would consider a tie up with the smaller parties in West Bengal which are seeking an alliance with us,” Ahmed said.
He added: “Although, we hope that in the coming days a consensus will be achieved with the Trinamool Congress through negotiations, as of now we would just like to say that the talks have been inconclusive. We need some more time to arrive at a decision.”
The Congress is eyeing at least one-third of the seats in West Bengal.
On Friday, Banerjee allotted 64 seats to the Congress while releasing a list of 228 TMC candidates for the upcoming polls.
The move has ruffled feathers in the Congress. Political analysts say the deadlock would hamper their election campaign strategies. (ANI)
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Tags: aicc, assembly elections, campaign strategies, central election, congress party, field candidates, fifth phase, fourth phase, india congress committee, mamata banerjee, media persons, party president, political analysts, regional parties, shakeel ahmed, sixth phase, sonia gandhi, tie ups, trinamool congress, west bengal